Productivity Smarts

Do you ever stop to think about what your clothes are saying before you even speak? We've all heard that first impressions matter—but have you ever wondered if your outfit might be the silent ambassador standing between you and that elusive promotion? In this episode of Productivity Smarts , host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Gayla Bentley, a fashion icon whose work has graced People Magazine ,...

What if slowing down was the secret to speeding up success? In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Larry Weingarten—licensed general contractor, hot water systems expert, and author of The Philosopher's Wrench, a book that creatively teaches lessons that extend far beyond plumbing. With decades of experience and a passion for education, Larry shares how embra...

Ever feel like your problems are too big, too vague, too tangled to tackle? Dr. Mark L. Teague calls it "the blob"—that overwhelming mass of modern challenges we all face. In this powerful episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Dr. Teague, economist, former finance executive, and author of A Working Man's Guide, to reveal a game-changing approach: frame the problem b...

Shanae is the founder of Nerdy Diva and also serves as the strategic project partner for clients working with the Nerdy Diva team. At Nerdy Diva, Shanae supports SaaS companies with their toughest challenges and helps them grow into mature, community-focused businesses. She leads the areas of business strategy, user research, design, content creation, and training on client projects.   Shanae is a...

In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with seasoned psychotherapist and author Steven Melman, who brings over 40 years of experience in the mental health world. Their conversation dives into what it really takes to stay productive, grounded, and emotionally resilient—especially for those in helping professions like therapy, coaching, and consulting. Steven shares...

In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard explores the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern productivity with Gerard Wouters, a Taoist therapist and former financial manager whose unorthodox methods heal trauma in just two sessions. With over 28 years of experience, Gerard reveals how Taoist principles—like deciphering setbacks as messages and leading through harmony, not...

Did you know the way you make eye contact could determine your next promotion—or prevent a team meltdown?  In this paradigm-shifting episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard uncovers the hidden mechanics of workplace success with Dr. Dianne Olvera, a clinical psychologist and former diplomat whose espionage experience revealed surprising truths about human connection. With dual docto...

What If the Secret to Productivity… Is laughter? What do you do when your career disappears overnight? When GPS kills your bestselling book? Or when your team is drowning in stress and silence? For award-winning journalist and humorist Bill Williams, the answer wasn't hustle—it was humor. In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Bill Williams—award-winning jour...

What if your brain's "operating system" is running on outdated software? In this transformative episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Agnes Chau—award-winning transformational coach, aerospace engineer, and founder of the nonprofit Empowered Heart—to explore how neuroscience, subconscious reprogramming, and heart-mind alignment can unlock unparalleled productivity a...

Leadership isn't built in boardrooms—it's forged in the ER, on combat missions, and in the quiet moments when no one's watching. In this high-impact episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Dr. Josh McConkey—emergency physician, U.S. Army Colonel, and author of Be the Weight Behind the Spear . Drawing from 23 years of military leadership and frontline medicine, Dr. McC...

What if you could access a powerful tool to reprogram your mind, overcome self-doubt, and break free from the invisible barriers holding you back? In this episode of Productivity Smarts , host Gerald J. Leonard welcomes back a familiar voice—Dr. Lisa Zaretsky, a returning guest from Episode 69 and a renowned expert in hypnotherapy. This time, Dr. Lisa joins Gerald to discuss her new book, The Secr...

Ever feel like you're running in circles—busy but not truly productive? Or maybe that nagging voice in your head whispers, "You're not good enough," no matter how much you achieve?  In this episode of Productivity Smarts, Gerald talks with Dr. Winifred Bragg—a nationally recognized speaker, board-certified physician, and creator of The Bragg Factor—to tackle these challenges head-on. Dr. Bragg sha...

What if everything you thought you knew about health was wrong?   In this eye-opening episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Dr. Robert Lufkin—renowned metabolic health and longevity expert—to challenge some of the most deeply held beliefs in Western medicine. Drawing from his provocative book The Lies I Taught in Medical School, Dr. Lufkin shares how curiosity, cour...

Music could be your ultimate stress-relief tool, creativity booster, and productivity hack—all rolled into one. And no, this isn't about becoming the next concert pianist or mastering complex sonatas. It's about something simpler, more accessible, and honestly, way more fun: Piano Yoga.   In this episode of Productivity Smarts, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Sonny Strancarone, CEO of Sonny's Pia...

In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Emile Henwood, a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Remembering a Great American Hero: Marian Anderson, the Lady from Philadelphia. Together, they dive into the extraordinary life of Marian Anderson, a trailblazing singer and civil rights icon whose legacy continues to inspire generations. Marian Anderson's stor...

Are you truly making the most of your time, or just keeping yourself busy? Be honest—how often do you end the day feeling exhausted, yet unsure if you actually got anything meaningful done? Burnout sneaks up before you even realize it. Procrastination convinces you there's always tomorrow. And just when you start making progress, imposter syndrome whispers, Are you even good enough? But what if th...

The greatest obstacle to productivity isn't a lack of time, skill, or effort—it's the invisible weight of doubt, stress, and worry. We grind ourselves down, convinced that success comes from doing more, when in reality, true effectiveness begins with thinking better. In this episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with retired pediatrician Dr. Ron Schneebaum to unco...

What if the biggest thing holding you back wasn't external at all—but something within you? What if success wasn't about grinding harder, but about leading yourself better? In this episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Doug Schmidt, self-leadership expert and author of The Power of Self-Leadership, to unpack the game-changing principles from his book. But thi...

What if the things we've buried—memories, emotions, even physical clutter—are quietly shaping the way we live and work today? In this episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Ann Mracek, author of Unpacking the Attic: A Path to Healing Your Inner Child. Ann shares how sorting through childhood memories while helping her parents move into assisted living became a...

In this episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast, Gerald J. Leonard speaks  with Andrea Waltz, the co-founder of Courage Crafters Inc. and author of the book "Go for No." Andrea shares her powerful perspective on rejection and how embracing it can actually drive productivity and success. They dive into the challenges entrepreneurs face, from feeling isolated to battling the fear of rejection, an...

In this episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Dr. Ona Newton, CEO and founder of Tobams Group , to dive into the world of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and how businesses can seamlessly integrate them into their strategies.. They kick things off with a new segment, "Sustainability Smarts," where they explore how companies can move bey...

In this episode of the Productivity Smarts podcast, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Karden Rabin, co-author of The Secret Language of the Body . Karden takes us on his journey from massage therapist to exploring the psychological factors behind chronic pain. He introduces powerful somatic practices like the "view-breath" and "cross-crawl" to manage stress and improve productivity. The conversatio...

In this episode of the Productivity Smarts  podcast, Gerald J. Leonard dives into the powerful link between productivity and emotional well-being. He's joined by Dr. Karyne Wilner, an expert in body psychotherapy and energy psychology. Together, they explore the key concepts from Dr. Willner's book, Releasing Toxic Anger for Women offering practical insights on how to manage negative emotions thro...

In this episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast, host Gerald J. Leonard engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Daisy Khan, a renowned leader in social change and human rights. Dr. Khan takes us on her journey from architecture to community building, sharing her transformative four-pronged change theory: education, collaboration, communication, and action. She underscores the power of emp...

In this episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Dr. Andrew Kadar, a physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Kadar opens up about his personal journey of resilience after being diagnosed with heart disease, sharing the challenges he faced and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. He discusses how mindset, adaptability, and seeking help were k...